Grady Sizemore just concluded a six-year deal with the Cleveland Indians and will be set to hit the free agent market, after the Indians declined his $8.5 million option for the 2012 season.
Sizemore was a five-tool star as recently as 2008 but his skills dropped off immensely and he may be best suited at this point as a platoon outfielder.
Sizemore is a left-handed bat who could work well with John Mayberry, Jr. in left field. Sizemore batted just .224 with 10 home runs in 295 plate appearances last year but he posted a significantly higher OPS against righties (.751) than lefties (.582).
The Phillies will likely be counting on Domonic Brown to be the main guy starting in 2012, as GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. has already announced he will be spending next season in Triple-A. Sizemore has never played a single inning in the major leagues anywhere but center field, but he has made it known he would be willing to move to a corner outfield spot if the situation is right.
Charlie Manuel used Michael Martinez in center field last spring training, even though Martinez had never played the outfield before, and Martinez ended up getting into several games in center. Wilson Valdez also dabbled in center field in spring training, and the transition from center field to left field should be much easier for Sizemore.
Sizemore has spent significant time dealing with injuries lately, missing 210 games over the past three days. He underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his knee this past October, one for which he will have to rehabilitate from. Sizemore might be able to be obtained at a one-year, incentive-filled deal, but if teams like the Boston Red Sox express interest in him, Sizemore would assuredly want to start for a contender, rather than be a platoon player.
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[...] Philadelphia Phillies Should Sign Grady Sizemore for 2012Rant SportsThe Phillies will likely be counting on Domonic Brown to be the main guy starting in 2012, as GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. has already announced he will be spending next season in Triple-A. Sizemore has never played a single inning in the major leagues anywhere …Grady Sizemore's agent won't rule out a return to the Cleveland IndiansPlain DealerCleveland Indians decline team option on Grady SizemoreCrain’s Cleveland Businessall 237 news articles » [...]
In the last paragraph in the very first sentence… I noticed that Grady Sizemore has done something that no other player has ever done!! Miss 210 games in 3 days! :O AMAZING!!! :O